Thursday, 31 July 2014
An invitation to Quality Improvement
An invitation to Quality Improvement Following a visit to see the Improving Quality Together programme being run in NHS Wales, Adam Roberts blogs about the approach they're taking to instil improvement in the health service there. The Health Foundation
Number of patients with recorded diagnosis of dementia increases by 62 per cent over seven years
Number of patients with recorded diagnosis of dementia increases by 62 per cent over seven years Provisional figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show 344,000 patients had a recorded diagnosis of dementia in 2013-14.
See also:
See also:
- Recorded dementia cases rise 62% in seven years GP Online
- England records rise in dementia BBC News
- Dementia diagnosis rises by 60 per cent in 7 years The Independent
- Soaring numbers diagnosed with dementia The Daily Telegraph
Ebola outbreak in West Africa – latest information
Ebola outbreak in West Africa – latest information The Government has today issued latest information on the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa. There are no reports of British citizens being infected and there are no cases of the virus in the UK. Department of Health
See also:
See also:
- NHS 'can deal with' UK Ebola threat BBC News
- VIDEO: Ebola outbreak 'presents challenges' BBC News
- UK on high alert amid fears of Ebola virus spread OnMedica
- Ebola outbreak 'could reach UK' The Daily Telegraph
- Ebola virus outbreak: the impact so far in 60 seconds The Daily Telegraph
- What is Ebola? The signs, symptoms and source of the deadly virus - and what people should be looking out for The Independent
Engaging in global health: the framework for voluntary engagement in global health by the UK health sector
Engaging in global health: the framework for voluntary engagement in global health by the UK health sector This report provides information and advice to those working in the health sector about the opportunities and benefits of international volunteering. The information is aimed at health employees, employers and health organisations. Department of Health
'E-cigs less harm than cigarettes'
'E-cigs less harm than cigarettes' An analysis of the current evidence available on e-cigarettes suggests they are safer than conventional cigarettes. BBC News
Inspection notice periods could treble
Inspection notice periods could treble Hospitals, GP practices and care homes could see pre-inspection notice periods trebled under a new Care Quality Commission approach. Health Service Journal
Eating more than 5 a day 'brings no extra benefit'
Eating more than 5 a day 'brings no extra benefit' "Eating more than five a day has 'no extra health benefit'," reports The Independent. The paper reports on a review that combined the results of previous research looking at the effect of increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables people eat.
One of the things they specifically wanted to look at was whether there is a dose-dependent effect. The study did find there was a 5% reduction in risk of death on average from any cause for each additional serving of fruit or vegetables a day.
However, a threshold was observed at around five servings a day, after which the risk of death did not reduce further.
This result would appear to contradict a UK study covered by Behind the Headlines in April, which suggested we should be eating seven a day to achieve the maximum benefit.
This earlier study was not included in the new review, so it is unknown what effect its findings may have had on the results.
Many of us struggle to eat at least five a day, let alone seven a day, so the results of both studies reinforce the importance of including lots of fruit and vegetables in our diet.
One of the things they specifically wanted to look at was whether there is a dose-dependent effect. The study did find there was a 5% reduction in risk of death on average from any cause for each additional serving of fruit or vegetables a day.
However, a threshold was observed at around five servings a day, after which the risk of death did not reduce further.
This result would appear to contradict a UK study covered by Behind the Headlines in April, which suggested we should be eating seven a day to achieve the maximum benefit.
This earlier study was not included in the new review, so it is unknown what effect its findings may have had on the results.
Many of us struggle to eat at least five a day, let alone seven a day, so the results of both studies reinforce the importance of including lots of fruit and vegetables in our diet.
Viewpoint: NHS profits must remain within the NHS - not go to any qualified provider
Viewpoint: NHS profits must remain within the NHS - not go to any qualified provider Writing exclusively for GPonline.com, RCGP clinical lead on immunisation Dr George Kassianos argues the NHS been heading in the wrong direction for the last two decades.
More than 1 billion generics dispensed in 2013, saving NHS £12 billion
More than 1 billion generics dispensed in 2013, saving NHS £12 billion Patent expiry on large volume brands, such as Lipitor, behind figures, say generics manufacturers. OnMedica
We bean counters need to speak out about NHS cuts
We bean counters need to speak out about NHS cuts Finance staff could make a stand without any direct impact on patient care, so why don't we?
Pen pushers, bean counters, faceless bureaucrats, stuffed shirts, spreadsheet monkeys, grey suits are all terms that I have heard applied to the national health service's finance staff. I am one of the "bean counters" and until recently it was largely a case of sticks and stones for me. We are an easy target for vote-hungry politicians keen to show how they can save a few bob for the public purse. But peer beyond the lazy rhetoric and it is possible to appreciate that, although we might not be the ones caring for patients, we have a crucial part to play in ensuring that a vast organisation faced with rising demand and a finite level of funding uses its resources wisely. It can be the difference between whether some patients get the care they need or not.
The NHS is in the final year of a four-year challenge to save £20bn. This is dressed up as "efficiency savings" and "cost improvement programmes" but in reality it means cuts to services, staff pay freezes and pensions "reform". That's not enough for NHS England, though, which estimates that the NHS needs to find a further £30bn of savings by 2020-21. In the meantime, the government has the cheek to pretend that NHS funding has somehow been ringfenced. Continue reading... The Guardian
Pen pushers, bean counters, faceless bureaucrats, stuffed shirts, spreadsheet monkeys, grey suits are all terms that I have heard applied to the national health service's finance staff. I am one of the "bean counters" and until recently it was largely a case of sticks and stones for me. We are an easy target for vote-hungry politicians keen to show how they can save a few bob for the public purse. But peer beyond the lazy rhetoric and it is possible to appreciate that, although we might not be the ones caring for patients, we have a crucial part to play in ensuring that a vast organisation faced with rising demand and a finite level of funding uses its resources wisely. It can be the difference between whether some patients get the care they need or not.
The NHS is in the final year of a four-year challenge to save £20bn. This is dressed up as "efficiency savings" and "cost improvement programmes" but in reality it means cuts to services, staff pay freezes and pensions "reform". That's not enough for NHS England, though, which estimates that the NHS needs to find a further £30bn of savings by 2020-21. In the meantime, the government has the cheek to pretend that NHS funding has somehow been ringfenced. Continue reading... The Guardian
Hospitals spending 'extraordinary' amounts of money on locum staff, says report
Hospitals spending 'extraordinary' amounts of money on locum staff, says report NHS hospitals are spending “extraordinary” amounts of public money on temporary staff, health experts have said, after an investigation revealed that rates of almost £150 per hour were paid for locum nurses to work over the May bank holiday. The Independent
See also:
See also:
- NHS hospital paid £1800 a day for a nurse Sky News
- Nurses paid rates of £150 an hour to work bank holidays The Daily Telegraph
Sharp cuts leave NHS mental health services unable to cope, GPs say
Sharp cuts leave NHS mental health services unable to cope, GPs say Family doctors have warned of the deteriorating state of mental healthcare in England, after a survey revealed that one in five had seen a patient come to harm because they could not get specialist help. The Independent
See also:
See also:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)